Waxwing, Crook O'Lune HP, Caton. I achieved a single digiscope shot before this small flock flew off.
First winter Mediterranean Gull, Heysham
The Czech-ringed adult Med, left, with his friend!
You might already have spotted but I love Med Gulls!
Extremely ropey shot of the Pine Lake Slavonian Grebe
Little Egret, Bolton-Le-Sands
Whooper Swans from the bridge at Hornby
Cormorant, Teal Bay Groyne, Morecambe
Dunlins, Teal Bay
Lapwing, Teal Bay
Ingleborough seen from Thrushgill
November 6th – 10th
Xxxxx
Saturday on a very sunny morning I pootled off to HGF early doors. Quite a few birds around but nothing special. In the south field was a covey of 18 Grey Partridges with plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks also buzzing around. The field opposite the kennels held a large Lapwing flock with a Buzzard also there grubbing for worms. The Scaup was also still present on the pool and a Grey Wagtail was new. The garden was also busy with 8 Blackbirds in the roost and various corvids and other common stuff. A small flock of Fieldfares also flew over. I only had a brief glance at the feeding station as we drove past north to the van – around 40 birds Tree Sparrows were present. The Peregrine was again on its usual pylon.
Xxxxx
On arrival at the van I parked in the usual space for the vacant plot near ours. I opened the car door and immediately heard some familiar calls. I looked up to see Waxwings in the tree next to the car. Awesome! There are no berry trees here to hold them so I knew they wouldn’t stay long. They actually flew off after 2 minutes or so while Karen was watching them through my scope – I counted 12 birds departing west. Later in the afternoon I saw a flock of around 40 birds fly over the van heading north. From the flock formation they had to be one of two species – my immediate gut instinct was Waxwing. I then spent the rest of the day talking myself out of this theory!
Xxxxx
Around the van today were a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Treecreeper and various tits and finches. Large numbers of Redwings flew over with a small flock staying around the van until dusk. That night the Tawny Owl was calling near the van again.
Xxxxx
Late morning Karen and I took Billy to Bolton-Le-Sands at high tide. This is fast becoming one of our favourite places to go, partly because the food and coffee in Archer’s café is a bit good! The salt marsh had only partially flooded and as the tide receded the birds moved over. Little Egrets seem to pop up from hidden channels all over while good numbers of waders were seen including sizeable flocks of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits plus Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Redshanks, Curlews and a few Grey Plovers. A few Pintails were mixed in with the large number of Wigeon and larger numbers of Shelducks floating offshore. At one point I found a male Merlin perched on a dead bush – it flew off and later returned. A Green Woodpecker and a Raven were also picked up. A very enjoyable couple of hours!
Xxxxx
Sunday, early morning I decided to take Billy and go for a recce to Thrushgill – a place I have read about but never visited. There was not much to see on the way up except a couple of coveys of Red-legged Partridges. As I arrived at the plantation I heard some Crossbills – they seemed to have scarpered by the time I got out! I stood on the road and suddenly heard a rabbit screaming in the nearby rushes. Said rabbit suddenly emerged, saw me and changed direction and headed directly toward me. It stopped a few feet away just stood there trembling in fear. I stood still and watched it, after a minute or so it seemed to calm and lolloped off. I then saw the cause of the rabbits fear – a rather large Stoat. I tried squeaking my hand – this caused the Stoat to jump on top of a dry stone wall to see what was making the noise. It didn’t come any closer though. The fact that the rabbit changed direction and ran toward me is something I find interesting. Could it have reasoned that the Stoat would not approach me and I was the lesser of two evils?
Xxxxxx
A few birds did start moving about with Siskins and Lesser Redpolls in small numbers and finally 3 Crossbills flying around the tops of nearby trees. Large numbers of Fieldfares passed through or hung about in the valley below. Buzzard and Kestrel and a fly over Cormorant were also seen. The place looks good for Crossbills, however the fact that the access is restricted and you can only view part of the plantation from the road is somewhat limiting. I wonder if there are Goshawks in there?
Xxxxxx
I didn’t stay long at Thrushgill and headed into Hornby to Lloyn Bridge. The fields to the north of the bridge are seriously flooded and alsorts of birds were present. The stars here were the 23 Whooper Swans which apparently winter here each year. Plenty of Wigeon and a few Pintail were also present with large numbers of Black-headed Gull and Starling – I estimate around 3500 of the latter species. I was only too happy to watch the Starling flock. A few Goosanders were fishing below the bridge and a Nuthatch called from the trees at the side.
Xxxxxx
Next stop Pine Lake – just to see the Slavonian Grebe. Unfortunately the grebe was hemmed in by water skiers and anglers and was restricted to a small patch of water on the far side. I watched it for a short while and then left to go and meet Karen at Bolton-Le-Sands. The spectacle here was ruined by several dog walkers going out to the tide line and flushing everything. A few distant Red-breasted Mergansers and an over-flying pair of Ravens were the only consolations. Later on that afternoon I nipped over to Heysham where the world’s supply of anglers seem to be in residence on the north harbour wall and one guy had parked his van across the road, completely blocking it. I stayed long enough to get a few snaps of the two adult and single first winter Med Gulls and then left.
Xxxxx
Not much happening at HGF the last few days. The Scaup is still present and the covey of Grey Partridges in the south field. A Redshank was also present this morning and the Wigeon flock had increased slightly. At the feeding station the Tree Sparrows have numbered around 70 birds the last two days though only brief visits had. Several coveys of Grey Partridges still around and at dusk yesterday 4 Brown Hares in a nearby field.
Xxxxx
Rixton today – flying visit. 3 Green Sandpipers on Moat Lane pool 1 with 10 Mute Swans, 3 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 6 Mallard and a couple of Coot also there.
Xxxxx
Saturday on a very sunny morning I pootled off to HGF early doors. Quite a few birds around but nothing special. In the south field was a covey of 18 Grey Partridges with plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks also buzzing around. The field opposite the kennels held a large Lapwing flock with a Buzzard also there grubbing for worms. The Scaup was also still present on the pool and a Grey Wagtail was new. The garden was also busy with 8 Blackbirds in the roost and various corvids and other common stuff. A small flock of Fieldfares also flew over. I only had a brief glance at the feeding station as we drove past north to the van – around 40 birds Tree Sparrows were present. The Peregrine was again on its usual pylon.
Xxxxx
On arrival at the van I parked in the usual space for the vacant plot near ours. I opened the car door and immediately heard some familiar calls. I looked up to see Waxwings in the tree next to the car. Awesome! There are no berry trees here to hold them so I knew they wouldn’t stay long. They actually flew off after 2 minutes or so while Karen was watching them through my scope – I counted 12 birds departing west. Later in the afternoon I saw a flock of around 40 birds fly over the van heading north. From the flock formation they had to be one of two species – my immediate gut instinct was Waxwing. I then spent the rest of the day talking myself out of this theory!
Xxxxx
Around the van today were a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Treecreeper and various tits and finches. Large numbers of Redwings flew over with a small flock staying around the van until dusk. That night the Tawny Owl was calling near the van again.
Xxxxx
Late morning Karen and I took Billy to Bolton-Le-Sands at high tide. This is fast becoming one of our favourite places to go, partly because the food and coffee in Archer’s café is a bit good! The salt marsh had only partially flooded and as the tide receded the birds moved over. Little Egrets seem to pop up from hidden channels all over while good numbers of waders were seen including sizeable flocks of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits plus Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Redshanks, Curlews and a few Grey Plovers. A few Pintails were mixed in with the large number of Wigeon and larger numbers of Shelducks floating offshore. At one point I found a male Merlin perched on a dead bush – it flew off and later returned. A Green Woodpecker and a Raven were also picked up. A very enjoyable couple of hours!
Xxxxx
Sunday, early morning I decided to take Billy and go for a recce to Thrushgill – a place I have read about but never visited. There was not much to see on the way up except a couple of coveys of Red-legged Partridges. As I arrived at the plantation I heard some Crossbills – they seemed to have scarpered by the time I got out! I stood on the road and suddenly heard a rabbit screaming in the nearby rushes. Said rabbit suddenly emerged, saw me and changed direction and headed directly toward me. It stopped a few feet away just stood there trembling in fear. I stood still and watched it, after a minute or so it seemed to calm and lolloped off. I then saw the cause of the rabbits fear – a rather large Stoat. I tried squeaking my hand – this caused the Stoat to jump on top of a dry stone wall to see what was making the noise. It didn’t come any closer though. The fact that the rabbit changed direction and ran toward me is something I find interesting. Could it have reasoned that the Stoat would not approach me and I was the lesser of two evils?
Xxxxxx
A few birds did start moving about with Siskins and Lesser Redpolls in small numbers and finally 3 Crossbills flying around the tops of nearby trees. Large numbers of Fieldfares passed through or hung about in the valley below. Buzzard and Kestrel and a fly over Cormorant were also seen. The place looks good for Crossbills, however the fact that the access is restricted and you can only view part of the plantation from the road is somewhat limiting. I wonder if there are Goshawks in there?
Xxxxxx
I didn’t stay long at Thrushgill and headed into Hornby to Lloyn Bridge. The fields to the north of the bridge are seriously flooded and alsorts of birds were present. The stars here were the 23 Whooper Swans which apparently winter here each year. Plenty of Wigeon and a few Pintail were also present with large numbers of Black-headed Gull and Starling – I estimate around 3500 of the latter species. I was only too happy to watch the Starling flock. A few Goosanders were fishing below the bridge and a Nuthatch called from the trees at the side.
Xxxxxx
Next stop Pine Lake – just to see the Slavonian Grebe. Unfortunately the grebe was hemmed in by water skiers and anglers and was restricted to a small patch of water on the far side. I watched it for a short while and then left to go and meet Karen at Bolton-Le-Sands. The spectacle here was ruined by several dog walkers going out to the tide line and flushing everything. A few distant Red-breasted Mergansers and an over-flying pair of Ravens were the only consolations. Later on that afternoon I nipped over to Heysham where the world’s supply of anglers seem to be in residence on the north harbour wall and one guy had parked his van across the road, completely blocking it. I stayed long enough to get a few snaps of the two adult and single first winter Med Gulls and then left.
Xxxxx
Not much happening at HGF the last few days. The Scaup is still present and the covey of Grey Partridges in the south field. A Redshank was also present this morning and the Wigeon flock had increased slightly. At the feeding station the Tree Sparrows have numbered around 70 birds the last two days though only brief visits had. Several coveys of Grey Partridges still around and at dusk yesterday 4 Brown Hares in a nearby field.
Xxxxx
Rixton today – flying visit. 3 Green Sandpipers on Moat Lane pool 1 with 10 Mute Swans, 3 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 6 Mallard and a couple of Coot also there.
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